Golf club face insert

Abstract

A face insert for a golf club head, preferably a putter head, is disclosed herein. The face insert comprises a pair of stacked plates, each with a plurality of hinge features. The hinge features of the lower plate extend through openings in the upper plate so that the plates are locked together, and the edge surfaces of the hinge features combine to create a striking surface that increases topspin of a golf ball.

We claim: 
     
       1. A golf club face insert comprising:
 a first striking plate comprising a first base portion, a first plurality of hinge features extending at a first angle from the first base portion, and a first plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes; and 
 a second striking plate comprising a second base portion, a second plurality of hinge features extending at a second angle from the second base portion, and a second plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes, 
 wherein the first striking plate is stacked on the second striking plate so that at least a portion of the first base portion makes contact with at least a portion of the second base portion, so that each through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes at least partially overlaps a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes, and so that each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features extends through a through-hole of the plurality of first through-holes, and 
 wherein at least a portion of each hinge feature of the first and the second pluralities of hinge features is exposed. 
 
     
     
       2. The golf club face insert of  claim 1 , further comprising a backing portion, wherein the backing portion contacts a rear surface of the first base portion. 
     
     
       3. The golf club face insert of  claim 2 , wherein the backing portion is affixed to and covers at least a portion of the first base portion and the second base portion. 
     
     
       4. The golf club face insert of  claim 1 , wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features comprises a first tab portion with a first upper surface, a first lower surface, and a first connecting surface, wherein the first connecting surface is approximately parallel with the first base portion, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features comprises a second tab portion with a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a second connecting surface, wherein the second connecting surface is approximately parallel with the second base portion. 
     
     
       5. The golf club face insert of  claim 4 , wherein the first connecting surface is approximately parallel with the second connecting surface. 
     
     
       6. The golf club face insert of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and the second connecting surfaces aligns with one another to create an approximately planar striking surface. 
     
     
       7. The golf club face insert of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and the second tab portions has an approximately trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
       8. The golf club face insert of  claim 4 , wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features extends at a first angle of 45-90° from the first base portion, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features extends at a second angle of 45-90° from the second base portion. 
     
     
       9. The golf club face insert of  claim 8 , wherein the first angle is equivalent to the second angle. 
     
     
       10. The golf club face insert of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and the second angles is 54-57°. 
     
     
       11. The golf club face insert of  claim 4 , wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features comprises a notch extending into the first upper surface of the first tab portion at an intersection between the first tab portion and the first base portion. 
     
     
       12. The golf club face insert of  claim 4 , wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features comprises a second notch extending into the second upper surface of the tab portion at an intersection between the second tab portion and the second base portion. 
     
     
       13. A golf club face insert comprising:
 first metal striking plate comprising a first base portion, a first plurality of hinge features extending at a first angle from the first base portion, and a first plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes; 
 a second metal striking plate comprising a second base portion, a second plurality of hinge features extending at a second angle from the second base portion, and a second plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes; and 
 a polymeric backing portion, 
 wherein the first striking plate is stacked on the second striking plate so that at least a portion of the first base portion makes contact with at least a portion of the second base portion, so that each through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes overlaps a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes, and so that each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features extends through a through-hole of the plurality of first through-holes, 
 wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features comprises a first tab portion with a first upper surface, a first lower surface, and a first connecting surface, 
 wherein the first connecting surface is approximately parallel with the first base portion, 
 wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features comprises a second tab portion with a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a second connecting surface, 
 wherein the second connecting surface is approximately parallel with the second base portion, 
 wherein each of the first and second connecting surfaces aligns with one another to create an approximately planar striking surface, and 
 wherein each of the first and second connecting surfaces of the plurality of the first and the second hinge features is exposed. 
 
     
     
       14. The golf club face insert of  claim 13 , wherein the backing portion is affixed to and covers both the first base portion and the second base portion. 
     
     
       15. The golf club face insert of  claim 14 , wherein the backing portion is composed of a urethane material. 
     
     
       16. The golf club face insert of  claim 13 , wherein each hinge feature of the first and the second pluralities of hinge features is vertically spaced from adjacent hinge features by 0.005 inch to 0.010 inch, and is horizontally spaced from adjacent hinge features by 0.025 inch to 0.075 inch. 
     
     
       17. The golf club face insert of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second tab portions has a length of 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch, a width at least 1.5 times the length, and a thickness of 0.010 inch to 0.040 inch. 
     
     
       18. The golf club face insert of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first base portion and the second base portion has a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch. 
     
     
       19. The golf club face insert of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the backing portion is flush with each of the first and the second connecting surfaces. 
     
     
       20. The golf club face insert of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and the second tab portions has an approximately trapezoidal shape.